ect of exciting even
the constable's phlegmatic nature; so, after a short conversation, he
summoned a comrade, and set off for the pass at a round trot, led by
Willie.

"D'ye think it's likely he'll ken ye've come here to tell on him?"
inquired the constable, as they ran.

"I said I would have him nabbed," replied the boy.

"Hoot! mon; that was na wise-like. But after a' ye're ony a bairn.
Here, Tam, ye'd better gang up by the Stank burn an' keep a look-oot
ower the hills, an' I'll start him."

Thus advised, the second constable diverged to the right, and, plunging
into the copsewood, was instantly out of sight.

Soon afterwards, Willie came to the place where he had met the gypsy.
Here a consultation was held as to where the booth might probably be.

"He jumped over the wall here," said Willie, "and I'm sure he took the
hill in this direction at _first_."

"Ay, laddie; but chiels o' his stamp never gang straight to their mark.
We'll follow him up _this_ way. Hoe long is't sin' ye perted wi' him,
said ee?" examining the place where the gypsy had entered the copse.

Willie returned no answer. The unusual amount of fatigue and the
terrible mental excitement which he had undergone that day were too much
for him. A feeling of deadly sickness came suddenly on him, and when
the constable looked round he was lying on the road in a swoon.

This unexpected incident compelled the man to abandon further pursuit
for the time. Giving utterance to a "puir laddie," he raised the boy in
his arms and carried him to the nearest hut, which happened to be that
of old Moggy! No one was there but the young woman who acted as nurse
to the invalid. It chanced that Moggy had had a sleep, and she awoke
with her mental faculties much cleared, when the constable entered and
laid Willie on a mat not far from her bed.

The old woman gazed long and earnestly in the boy's face, and seemed
much troubled and perplexed while the nurse applied water to his
temples. At last Willie opened his eyes. Moggy at once recognised him.
She strove eagerly to reach her long-lost child, and Willie, jumping
up, sprang to her side; but ere they met she raised both arms in the
air, and, uttering a long piercing cry, fell back insensible upon the
bed.

STORY ONE, CHAPTER 21.

THE END.

Rain, rain, rain; continual, pertinacious, unmitigated rain! The White
House was no longer white, it was grey. Things were no longer damp,
they were totally